DISCOURSE 


DELIVERED  AT  SPRINGFIELD, 

OCTOBER  30,  1805. 

On  occasion  of  the.  Completion  and  Opening 

OF 

THE  GREAT  BRIDGE 

OVER  CONNECTICUT  RIVER, 

Between,  the  towns  of  Springfield  and  West-Springfield. 


BY  JOSEPH  LATHROP,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  IVest-Spring  field* 


SPRINGFIELD,  Mas. 

[h.    SREWER — PRINTER.] 


DISCOURSE 


DELIVERED  AT  SPRINGFIELD, 

OCTOBER   30,    1805. 

On  occasion  of  the.  Completion  and  Op^nin^ 

OF 

THE  GREAT  BRIDGE 

\  OVER  CONNECTICUT  RIVER, 

Between,  the  towns  of  Springfield  and  West-Springfield. 


BY  JOSEPH  LATHROP,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  West-Spring  field. 


SPRINGFIELD,  Mas. 
[h.  brewer — printerJ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


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L56 
1805 


•V«"W"V,<*>i*">i*"*.v  vN:"">;^">;'r-VjC"Vj*"ViC^V,^"#i<"^^^  *^f»  *!*   ^i-*   «->   'i»   n*  ^»  'iv  '>*  *»*  ^i*  ';»  'S 

..►  .►-»v-<i>^-^'>- "<i'<"<i>~<s><"«  •••(?<"<"i>-«-^^ 


ISAIAH       XLV.    18. 

God  himself  that  formed  the  earth  and  7nade  it he  created 

it  not  ill  vain he  formed  it  to  be  inhabited. 


EVERY  rational  bfing  dired^^  his  operations 
to  fonie  enu.  To  ]a^)or  without  an  objed, 
and  a6l  without  an  intention,  is  a  degree  of  fo'ly  too 
great  to  be  imputed  to  men.  We  mail  than  conclude, 
that  the  Being,  who  created  the  world,  had  a  puipofe  in 
view  adeq-ate  to  the  grandeur  of  the  work.  What  this 
purpoie  is  the  prophet  clearly  exprefies  in  our  text  and  a 
precediiig  verfe.  "  He  made  the  earth — he  created  man 
uponil — he  forT.ed  it  to  be  iahabited  j'*  to  be  inhabited 
by  men  ;  by  fuch  beings  as  we  are. 

Let  us  fi^rvey  the  earth,  aud  we  fliall  find  it  perfeci:Iy 
adapted  to  this  delign. 

Mofes,  in  his  hi(lo:y  of  the  creation,  informs  us,  that 
man  was  the  lad  of  God's  w^orks.  The  earth  was  en- 
lightened and  warmed  Vvith  the  fun,  coverei  with  fruits 
and  herbs,  and  ftocked  v/irh  every  fpecies  of  animals,  be- 
foie  man  was  placed  upon  it.  It  was  i^ot  a  naked  and 
dreary,  but  a  beautiful  and  rirhly  furnKhed  world,  on 
which  he  firft  opened  his  eyes.  He  was  not  fent  lo  fub- 
due  a  rugged  and  intradibie  wildernefs,  but  to  occupy  a 
kind  and  delightful  garden,  where,  with  moderate  labor, 
his  wants  might  be  fuppiiei.  ^  :' 

When  Adam  fitfl  awoke,  into  exifleace,  conteif^piaf- 
ed  his  own  woncierfal  frame,  furveyed  the  ground  on 
which  he  trod,  beheld  the  groves  which  waved  around 
him,  tafled  the  fruits  which  hung  bef^Tehim,  and  traced 
the  ftreams  which  meandered  by  his  fide,   at  once  he 


knew,  that  there  mufl:  be  an  invifible  Being,  who  form- 
ed this  pleafant  place  for  his  habitation. 

The  fame  evidence  have  we,  that  the  earth  was  made 
for  the  children  of  Adam. 

The  fun,  that  vafl:  body  of  fire  in  the  heavens,  is  fa 
Hationed,  as  to  cheer  and  fruftify  the  globe,  aui  render 
it  a  fit  manfion  for  human  beings.  By  the  regular  chan- 
ges of  the  feafons,  thofe  parts  of  the  earth  become  habit- 
able, which  otherwife  would  be  burnt  with  intolerable 
heat,  or  fealed  up  whh  eternal  froit. 

Around  this  globe  is  fpread  a  body  of  air,  {o  pure  as 
to  tranfmit  the  rays  of  light,  and  yet  fo  ftrong  as  to  fuf- 
tain  the  flight  of  birds.  This  ferves  for  the  breath  of 
life,  the  vehicle  of  found,  the  fufpenQon  of  waters,  the 
conveyance  of  clouds,  the  promotion  of  veget  iti  :n,  and 
various  other  ufes  neccflary  to  the.  fubfiflancc,  or  condu- 
cive to  the  comfort  of  the  human  kind. 

The  rarth  is  replenifbed  with  innumerable  tribes  of  an- 
imals, of  which  fomeaflifL  man  in  his  labors,  fome  yield 
him  food,  and  fome  furnilb  him  with  oruamenfs  and 
clothing.  "  To  man  God  h^s  given  dominion  over  the 
works  of  his  hands  :  Under  man's  power  he  has  put  ail 
things ;  all  (beep  and  oxen,  the  beafts  of  the  fic'd,  the 
fowl  of  the  air,  the  fifn  of  the  fea,  and  whatfoever  puiC- 
eth  thro'  the  paths  of  the  deep." 

The  produ£lic;ns  of  the  earth  are  various  beyond  con- 
ception. Some  fpontancous — fome  the  cfFeds  of  hu- 
man culture — fome  defigned  for  the  fupport  of  the  ani- 
mal tribes,  and  fome  more  immediately  adapted  to  the 
ufe  of  man. 

On  the  furfate  of  the  earth  we  meet  with  fprings  and 
ftreams  at  convenient  diftances  !0  fatisfy  the  thirdy  beaii, 
a^  veil  as  to  ferve  the  purpofes  of  the  rational  inhabitant. 
And  beneath  the  furface  there  are,  every  where,  coiitin- 


iial  currents  of  wa^er,  fpreading,  like  the  veins  in  a  hn» 
man  body,  in  various  ramifications,  from  which,  with 
little  labor,  daily  fupplies  may  be  drawn. 

The  great  bodies  of  water,  with  which  the  land  is  in* 
terfecled,  furriih  f.^od  for  man,  faci'i  ate  the  commerce 
of  nations,  and  lefrclh  and  fertilize  the  earth. 

By  the  heit  of  :he  fun,  and  other  co-operating  caufes^ 
waters  fromihefeas,  rivers  and  ft)untains  are  raifed  into 
the  cooler  regions  c f  the  atmofphcre,  there  condenfed  in- 
to c'ouds,  wafted  around  by  winds,  and  fiftei  down  in 
kind  and  gentle  fhowers.  Ihus  aie  our  fields  watered 
without  our  laDor  or  ficill. 

The  earth  fupplies  us  with  timber,  (lone,  cement,  me- 
tals, and  all  ne celTnrT  materials,  from  which  we  may  fa« 
bri.ate  implements  for  labor,  coverts  from  cold  and 
ftorms,  Bri  'ges  for  pafTing  the  ftreamSa  and  vcffels  for 
navigating  ihe  fcas. 

Then  tural  world  is  governed  by  uniform  and  fleady 
laws.  Hence  we  may  judge,  within  our  fphcre,  what 
means  are  neceiTary  to  certain  ends,  ;*nd  v»'hat  fuccefs 
may  ordinari'y  attend  the  woiks  of  our  hands. 

Now  to  what  end  was  all  this  order  and  beauty  of  na- 
ture— -his  ferdii  y  and.  furniture  of  the  earth,  if  there 
were  none  to  contemplate  and  enjoy  them  ?  Without 
fuch  an  inhabitant  as  man  to  behold  the  works,  and  re- 
ceive the  bounties  of  God,  this  earth  would  be  made  in 
vain  ;  it  mighi  as  *ell  have  been  a  Tandy  defert,  or  an 
impenetrable  rock. 

But  flill  the  earth,  richly  furniflied  as  it  is,  would 
lofe  more  than  ha'f  of  its  beauty  and  utility,  if  man  the 
pofTefTor  were  not  endued  with  a  faculty  of  invention 
and  adion.  *'  This  alfo  cometh  forth  from  the  Lord  of 
hofts,  who  is  wonderful  in  counsel  and  excellent  in 
working — for  hit  God  doth  inllrucl  him  to  difcrction. 


and  doth  teach  him."  God  has  done  much  for  man  ; 
but  has  left  fome:hi?ig  for  man  to  do  for  himfelf.  The 
materials  are  furnillied  to  his  hand  ;  he  mull  fit  and  ap- 
ply them  to  actual  uf?. 

In  the  firfl:  ages  of  the  world,  when  its  inhabitants 
were  few,  its  fpoiuaneous  prodiidions  in  a  great  meafurq 
fupplied  human  wants.  Bjt  as  men  increafcd  in  num. 
bers,  ttiey  found  it  ncceffary  to  form  focictr,  inftitute 
government  and  iiitrodace  arts  for  ^  more  eafy,  and  iefs 
precarious  fubfiftance,  and  for  more  effedual  defenfc 
and  fecuriry.  Hiilory  carries  us  back  to  the  time  when 
arts  hrft  began — when  iron  and  brafs  were  firit  wrought 
inio  otenfils  by  the  hand  of  the  artificer — when  tents  and 
houfes  were  coniLrud:ed  for  human  accommodation — 
when  mulijaj  inftruments  were  invented  to  amufe  the 
mind,  or  to  2.{[i({  devotion.  1  he  hiilorv  which  we  have 
of  the  beginning  and  progrefs  of  arts — the  (l.^te  in  which 
^e  no'jp  iee  them,  and  the  improvements  made  in  them 
within  (he  time  of  our  own  recolledion,  a-l  tend  to  con- 
firm the  Mofalc  account  of  the  origin  of  the  world. 

The  improvement  in  arts,  tho*  in  general  but  flow, 
ha?  nearly  kept  pace  with  human  exigencies.  For  fomc 
time  pad,  their  progress  has  been  rem.arkable.  Their 
prefenr  ftate  of  advancement  would  have  been  thought  in- 
credible a  century  ago.  A  century  hence  there  may  bs 
fach  additional  difcoveries  and  improvemeiits  as  would 
kcm  incredible  now. 

Not  only  in  Europe,  but  alfo  in  our  own  country,  ef- 
pecially  fmceour  late  revolution,  great  progrefs  has  been 
made  in  astronomical  dif  overies,  by  Vfhich  navigation  is 
afli'ied  ; — in  medical  fcience  by  which  dileafes  are  pre- 
vented or  cured — in  agriculture  by  which  our  lands  have 
much  incie'ifed  in  their  produce  and  value,  in  inilru- 
mentb  and  m.achines  to  expedite  and  diminifh  human  la- 
bor— in  the  mechanical  conftrudtion  of  mills  and  other 
vater-works  to   effect  the  fame  and  fuperior  ends  by  a 


lighter  impulfc  of  water — in  the  forn^ation  and  eredioft 
of  Bridges  to  break  the  DOwer  of  ices,  and  withfiand  the 
impetuofity  of  floods — in  opening  artificial  carals  by 
which  the  fails  and  rapids  of  flreains  are  rurmounted  or 
avoided,  and  in  "  cutting  out  rivers  among  the  rocks, 
and  binding  the  floods,"  fo  that  an  inland  navigation  is 
accompliflied. 

Who  among  us,  twentv  years  ago,  expe^ed  to  fee 
the  two  banks  of  Connecllcut  river  united  at  Springfield 
by  a  Bridge,  which  ihould  promife  durability  ?  Yet  fuch 
a  flrcdure  we  fee,  this  day,  completed  and  opened  for 
paifage— a  (Iru^^ure  which  difplays  the  wea'th  and  enter- 
prize  of  the  proprietors,  and  the  (kill  and  fidelity  of  ths 
artificers,  and  v/hich  will  yield  great  convenience  and 
advantage  to  the  contiguous  and  neighboiing  towns  and 
to  the  public  at  large. 

"  Except  the  Lord  build  the  edifice,  they  labor  in  vain 
that  build  it;  and  excepc  the  Lord  keep  it,  the  watch- 
men wake  in  vain."  In  a  work  of  this  kind,  there  is 
the  fame  reafcn  to  acknowledge  the  favoring  and  pre- 
serving hand  of  God,  as  in  all  other  enterprizes  and  un- 
d  jrtakings  ;  and  more  in  proportion  to  its  complexity, 
difficulty  and  magnitude.  The  fe:dfons  have  kindly  fmil- 
.ed  on  the  operations  ;  and  the  work  was  nearly  comple- 
ted Aiihcut  any  unhappy  accident  or  evil  occurreat. 

We  lament  the  cafualty,  by  which  a  number  of  the 
workmen  were  endangered,  fome  were  wounded,  and 
one  lofi:  hi;  life,*  a  life  important  to  his  family  and  valua- 
ble to  fociety.  And  yet,  confidcring  the  nature  of  the 
work,  the  length  of  time  fpent,  anCl^^che  number  of  peo- 
ple employed  in  ir,  we  muit  gratefully  afcribe  it  to  the 
watchful  care  of  providence,  that  no  other  carualty  has 
occurred.  And  when  we  confidcr  the  fuddennefs  and 
unforeseen  caufe  of  that  event,,  by  which  fo  great  a  num- 
ber were  imminentiy  expofed,  we  fee  great  caufe  of 
thankful nefs,  that  it  was  not  more  difallrous.    They  who 

'^  Captaia  Amos  Skow,  of  Ashford,  Connecticut. 


cfcaped  without  injury,  or  with  but  temporary  wounds, 
ought  often  to  look  back  to  the  time,  when  there  was 
but  a  flap  between  them  and  death. 

This  work,  tho'  the  unhappy  occafion  of  one  death, 
may  probably  be  the  means  of  preferving  many  lives.  If 
we  were  to  calculate  on  the  fame  number  of  men,  em- 
ployed for  the  fame  number  of  days,  in  con  fir  uc  ting  and 
credin^r  our  ordinary  buildings,  we  fhould  cer'ainly  ex- 
pedl  cafualties  more  numerous  and  difafl:?ous,  than  what 
have  happened  in  this  great,  unufual,  and  apparently 
more  dangerous  undertaking. 

The  flrudlure,  which  we  this  day  behold,  naturally 
fuggefis  to  us  a  mofl  convincing  evidence  of  the  exi/ience 
and  government  cf  a  Deity. 

Let  a  flianger  come  and  look  on  yonder  bridge  ;  and 
he  will  at  once  know  that  fome  workmen  have  been 
there.  Let  him  walk  over  it,  and  find  that  it  reaches 
from  ihore  to  (hore ;  and  he  will  know  that  it  was  built 
with  defign,  and  will  not  feel  a  moment's  doubt,  what 
the  dt^igii  is.  Let  him  then  defcend  and  examine  the 
workmauOiip  ;  and  he  will  be  fure,  that  much  (kill  and 
the  nice[t  art  have  been  employed  in  it.  And  now  let 
this  fame  man  cait  his  eyes  around  on  the  world,  obferve 
its  numerous  parts,  the  harmonious  adaptation  of  one 
part  to  another,  and  of  all  to  the  ufeand  benefit  of  man  ; 
and  he  will  have  equal  evidence,  that  there  is  a  God, 
who  made,  fulhins  and  rules  this  ftupendous  fabric  of 
nature,  which  he  beholds  every  day,  and  which  fur- 
rounds  him  wherever  he  goes. 

Such  a  flrufture  as  vonder  Bridg^e  convinces  us  of  the 
iniportaiice  cf  civil fociety,  and  of  ^Jirm  and  Jliady  gov- 
ernment. 

It  is  only  in  a  ftate  of  fociety  and  under  the  influence 
of  government,  that  grand  woiks  of  public  utility  can 
be  effedeJ.     There  muft  be  the  concurrence  of  many— 


ihere  mufl:  be  union  and  fubordination — there  muft  be 
tiansferable  property — there  mull  be  a  knowledge  of 
aits — ihere  mufl:  be  fomc  power  of  coercion  ;  none  of 
^hich  can  take  placein  a  favage  (late.  An  agreernert 
purely  voluntary  among  a  number  of  individua's,  with- 
out any  bond  of  union,  but  each  one's  mutab'e  wi'!, 
would  no  more  have  been  competent  to  the  compie  ioii 
of  thi.  Bridge  at  Springfield,  ih.n  it  was  enciertly  to 
the  finilhiog  of  the  tovver  on  the  piains  of  Shinar.  It 
vras  ne:eiT,Ty  here,  'hat  there  fhou id  be  a  corp^^raiioii 
veded  wi:h  a.  power  of  conipulfion  over  each  of  its  mem- 
bers, and  with  aright  to  receive  gradual  rerr.unera  ion, 
for  the  experife  of  ihe  work,  fr^ni  thofe  wh..  fhcuid  en-" 
joy  the  benefit  of  it.  And  fuch  a  corporation  mull  de- 
rive its  power  and  light,  as  well  as  exiflence,  from  fu- 
perior  authority. 

The  man  of  reafon  will  pity  the  weaknefs,  or  rather 
defpifethe  folly  of  th  fe  vifiuna.'y  and  '^hluifical  philof- 
ophers,  who  decry  the  iocial  union,  and  the  controling 
power  of  government,  and  plead  for  the  favarce,  as  pre- 
ferable to  the  civi  ized  ftae  of  mankind,  pretending  that 
human  nature,  left  to  its  own  incliiiaiions  and  eaergieSj 
^'  tends  to  perfeclability." 

If  fociety  were  diffjlved  and  government  abolifhed, 
what  v/ould  be  the  confequenv-ze  ?  All  the  ufeful  arts 
would  be  laid  afide,  loii  and  forgotten  ;  no  works  of 
public  utility  couid  be  a:.Cwmpiiihed,  or  would  be  at- 
tempted ;  no  commercial  intercourle  could  be  maintain- 
ed ;  no  property  could  be  fecured,  and  little  would  be 
acquired;  none  of  the  conveniences  and  refiaemeots  of 
life  could  be  obtained  ;  none  of  the  cordialities  of  friend- 
ihipand  ie!ation  v/ould  be  f -'t ;  more  than  nine  tenths 
of  the  human  race  mufi  perifh  to  make  room  for  the 
few  who  would  have  ihe  good  furtunc,  or  rather  the  xnif- 
f 01  tune,  to  furvive. 
B 


10 


Compare  now  the  ravage  and  the  civilized  (ta'tej  mA" 
fay  ;_  Is  it  better,  when  you  are  on  a  journey,  to  clinib 
ragged  mountains,  aod  defcend  frightful  precipi.e?,  thaii 
to  travel  in  a  plain  and  level  road  ?  Is  it  better  to  pafs  a 
dangcirous  Rre-.m  by  fwimming  with  your  arms,  or  by 
floating  on  a  \o^^  than  to  walk  fecurely  on  a  commodi- 
ous bridge  ?  Is  it  better  to  till  your  ground  with  your 
naked  hands,  or  with  a  ftarp  (lone,  than  with  the  labor 
ot  the  patient  ox,  and  with  inltruR^ents'  fabricated  by 
the  carpenter  and  the  fmith  ?  Is  it  better  to  cover  your 
bodies  with  hairy  ikins  torn  fiom  the  bones  of  wild! 
fceadi,  than  with  the  fniooth  and  foft  labors  of  the^oom  ? 
Is  it  better  to  llarvethro*  a  dreary  winter  in-  a  niiferable 
hut,  than  to  enjoy  a  fj  11  table  in  a  warm  and  convenient 
rranficn  ?  h  it  better  to  live  in  continual  dread  of  the 
rufhlefs  and  ven^erul  aiTafli:?,  than  to  dwell  in  fafety  ul- 
der  the  protedion  of  law  and  government  ? 

.  When  men  pVad  for  the  preference  of  the  favage  to 
ihe  fecial  Hate,  they  either  muil  talk  without  th6ught  ^ 
o!  mult  wifh  to  abohih  a  fiee  gpv<:rr.ment,  that  it  may 
Sefuiceeded  by  ano:her  more  abfo'ute,  in  the  manage- 
fnertt  of  which  they  expeft  a  pr^-eminent  fhare. 

:/rhe,work,  which  we  this  day,  fee  accompliilied,  fug- 
gefis  fome  ufeful  thoughts,  in  relation  to  the  nature  of 
civrifociety. 

''  Tlie  undertaker?,  tiff  His  ^?.-ork  have  fleadiry  kept  their 
great  obj^rci  in  view,  ha-ze  p\:rrued  it  with  unanimity 
?hd  zeal,  have  employed  artitic^rs  iVilful  in  their  profc> 
fibri,  and  workmen  faithful  to  their'  engagements,  and 
they  have  fpa:  ed  no  necelTir y  CO'fl.  Thus  they  have  feen 
the  woik  CO wipleted  to  thdr  fiiti^faction,  and  touniverfal 
approbation. 

Here  is  an  example  for  a  larger  fociety.  Let  every 
member  act  with  a  regard  to  the  common  inter  eft,   and 


II 


fludy  the  things  which  make  for  peace.  la  his  fmgle  ca- 
pacity, lei  hiai  be  quiet  and  do  his  own  bufiaefij  ;  but 
when  he  a^ls  in  hi^  focial  reiation,  kt  the  general  iiite- 
rell:  predoaunate.  Let  him  deteil:  that  falfe  and  mirera- 
ble  economy,  wliich,  under  pietcxt  of  lavir^g,  eiibances 
expcnfe,  arid  ultimately  ruins  the  concemphted  objec>. 
Let  him  never  c.onfentto  withhold  from  faithful  fervants 
their  merited  coiiipenfation.  In  rhe  fe'ection  of  men  to 
manage  tre  public  concerns,  let  him  always  prefer  the 
wile  to  rhe  ignorant,  the  experienced  to  the  rude,  the 
virtuous  and  faithful  to  the  .^fiih  aad  unnrincipled,  the 
men  of  activity  in  bofmeis,  to  the  TauiUe^'i^g  fo^^s  of  idle- 
nefs  andpleafure;  and  in  fuch  men  lee  hira  place  }^^ 
confidence,  and  to  their  meafures  yield  cheerful  fupport. 
Thus  he  may  hope  to  fee  the  works  of  foc^ety  conducted 
as  prudently,  and  terminated  as  fuccefsfully,  as  the  work 
which  we  this  day  aJmiie. 

In  the  work  iife'f  we  fee  an  e?nb!cmof  a  gond  fociety. 
The  parts  fitly  framed  and  clofely  com.paCted  together, 
afford  mutual  fupport,  and  contribute,  each  in  its  place, 
to  the  common  flrength  ;  andthe\^hoie  ft  u6lure  refls 
firm  and  ileady  on  a  foiid  foundation.  In  fociety  there 
muft  bea  power  of  cohefion,  refulting  from  benevolence 
and  mu'ual  confidence  ;  and  there  muft  be  a  ground 
work  fuificient  to  fupport  ir,  and  this  muft  be  religion. 

It  is  obvious,  that  no  fociety  can  fubfiTl:  long  in  a  ft  ate 
offreedoj-n,  without  juftice,  peaceablenefs,  fobriety,  iii- 
dufbry  and  order  iimcng  the  members  5  or  without  fiiel- 
ity,  impartiality  and  public  Ipirit  in  the  rulers.  It  is  €- 
qiially  obvious,  that  the  bans  of  thefe  virtues  can  be  no- 
thing lefs  than  religion.  Take  away  the  belief  of  a  divine 
moral  government,  and  the  appr^henficn  of  a  future  iiate 
of  retribution  ;  ind  what  principle  of  focial  or  private 
virtue  will  you  find  ? 

It  is  too  much  the  humor  cf  the  prefent  day  to  coafi- 


(\M 


der  religion  as  having  no  connection  with  civil  govern- 
ment.    This  fentiment,  firft   advanced   by  infidels,  has 

been  too  implicitly  adopted  by  fome  of  better    hearts 

But  it  is  a  fentiment  contrary  to  common  experience,  and 
common  fenfe,  aid  pregnant  of  fatal  evils.  As  well 
may  you  build  a  Cad  I  e  in  the  air,  without  a  foundation 
on  the  earth,  as  maintain  a  free  governnicnt  without 
virtue,  or  fupport  virtue  without  the  principles  of  reli- 
gion. Will  you  make  the  experiment  ?  Go,  firft,  and 
tear  away  the  pillars  from  yonder  Bridge.  See  if  the 
well-turned  arches  will  fuftain  themfelves  aloft  by  their 
own  proportion  and  fymmetry.  This  you  may  as  well 
expert,  as  that  our  happy  ftate  of  fociety,  and  oar  free 
conftitution  of  govtrnment  will  fland  fecure,  when  reli- 
gion is  flruck  a^ay  from  under  them. 

If  a  breach  fliould  happen  in  thofe  pillars,  immediate 
reparation  will  doubtlefs  be  made.  Let  the  fan^.c^  atten- 
tion be  paid  to  the  fta'e  of  religion  and  morals.  Let 
every  fpccies  oi  vice  and  every  licentious  fentiment  be 
difcountenanced — be  treated  with  abhorrence — Let  vir- 
tue and  piety  be  encouraged  and  cherifhed — Let  the 
means  of  religion  be  honored  and  fupported.  Thus  on- 
ly can  o'lr  focial  happinefs  be  maintained  ;  thus  only 
can  we  hope,  it  will  defcenl  to  our  pofterity, 

Theprogrefs  of  arts  naturally  reminds  us  of  the  im- 
port a?ice  of  revelation, 

Theacqulfition  of  thf^e  is  left  to  human  experience 
and  invention.  Hence  they  are  more  perfed  in  the  pre- 
len',  than  they  were  in  preceding  a^es.  But  to  in^trucl: 
us  in  moral  duties  and  in  our  i clarions  to  the  invifible 
world,  God  has  given  us  a  Revelation,  and  this  he  has 
communicated  to  us  by  men  infpired  with  his  own  fpirit, 
and  by  his  fon  fent  down  from  Heaven.  Some  arts, 
known  in  one  age,  have  been  loll  in  ficceedingares.  If 
we  attentively  re«d  the  book  of  Job,  we  ftiall  find,  that 


in  his  day,  the  arts,  among  the  Arabians,  had  rifento  a 
degree  of  perfedion,  of  ^hich  fome  following  ages  could 
not  boaft.  Bwt  the  revelaion,  which  God  has  given  us, 
he  has  taken  effcdlual  caieto  preftrve,  fo  far  that  no 
part  of  it  is  lo(t  to  the  worAl.  *- 

Now  fay,  Why  ha?  God  giveffS  revelation  to  inflrud 
us  in  the  truths  and  duties  irf>'-itigion,  and  none  to  in- 
flrud  us  in  hufbandry,  artrononiy,  mathematics  and  mc^ 
chanics  ?  May  we  not  hence  conclude,  that  religion  is 
a  matter  which  demands  our  principal  attention  ? 

If  a  number  of  men  fliould  combine  to  exterminate 
the  arts,  who  would  not  deem  them  enemies  to  mankind? 
Who  would  not  ri'e  to  oppofe  fo  nefarious  a  defign  ?— - 
But  thefe  would  be  harmlefs  men  compared  with  the 
malignant  ene.nies  of  reve'arion.  Yet  the  latter  may 
talk  and  write  ;  and  hundreds  may  atend  to,  and  fmile 
at  their  talk,  and  may  read  and  circu'ate  their  writings  ; 
and  few  feem  concerned  for  the  corlequences.  Yea, 
feme  vill  fc:  ffingly  fay,  "  If  religion  is  from  God,  let 
tim  take  care  to  preferve  h  ;"  as  if  they  thought,  none 
uere  bound  to  practife  it,  and  nonc-but  God  had  any 
intereft  in  it. 

While  we  contemplate  theprogrefs  of  arts,  we  are  led 
to  believe  z  future  Jiaie  of  exiiteuce. 

If  this  world  was  made  for  man,  certainly  man  ^as 
not  made  merely  for  this  vvorld,  but  for  a  more  exalted 
fphere.  We  have  caparities  which  nothing  earihly  can 
fiil — cefires  whi:h  nothing  temporary  can  iati>fy.  This 
rational  mind  can  contemplate  the  earth  and  the  heavens 
^-':an  lock  back  to  its  eariieil  exiilence  and  forward  to 
(iiitant  ages — can  invent  new  artr — can  improve  on  the 
inventions  of  others,  and  on  its  own  experience — can  de- 
vife  and  accomplifh  works,  which  would  have  been  in- 
credible to  preceding  ages — can  makeprogrefs  in  fwieoce 


for  beyond  what  the  prefent  fhort  term  of  exigence  will 
ftUow.     Its  wifhes,  hopes  and^profptcts  are  boundlefs  and 
eternal.     There  is  certainly  tanother   date,  in  which  it 
may  expand  to  its  full  dinienfions,  rife  lo  ics  juft  perfec- 
tion, and  reach  the  fammit  o-;  ics  hopes  and  piofpecls...... 

O,  my  foul,  what  is,  wealth  or  honor,  a  mafs  of  earth  or 
SL  gilded  title  tofuch  a  being  ^as  thou  3r%  who  canft  con- 
template the  glorious  ij^-^v^r,  parti^ke  of  his  divine  na- 
ture and  rejoice  forever  in  his  favor  ?  The  inhabitants  of 
the  earth,  hke  travellers  on  the  bridge,  appear,  pafs  a- 
way,  and  are  gone  from  our  fight.  They  enter  on  the 
ftage,  make  a  few  turns,  fpeak  a  few  words,  ftep  off,  and 
are  heard  and  feen  no  more  I  Their  places  are  filled  by 
others,  as  tranfient  as  they.  How  vafl:  is  the  number 
of  mortals,  who  in  one  age  only,  make  their  appearance 
and  difaopearance  on  this  globe  ?  Can  we  imagine,  that 
thefe  millions  of  moral  and  rational  being:-^,  who,  from 
age  to  age,  tread  the  earth,  and  then  are  called  away, 
drop  into  eternal  oblivion  ?  As  well  may  we  fuppofe, 
that  the  fuccellive  travellers  on  that  Bridge  terminate 
their  exiftcnce  there.  This  furely  is  a  probationary 
flate.  Here  we  are  to  prepare  for  a  glorious  immortali- 
ty. For  Juch  a  defign  the  world  is  well  adapted.  Here 
God  makes  known  his  cliar'ader  and  will,  difpenfes  a 
thoufand  bleffings,  mingles  forae  nereffary  afliidioL!? 
with  them,  calls  us  to  various  fervices,  puts  our  love 
and  obedience  to  fome  trials,  gives  opportunity  for  the 
exercife  of  humility,  gratitude,  bene/olence,  ir.eeknefs 
znd  contentment,  and  proves  us  for  a  time,  that  in  the 
end  he  may  do  us  good. 

This  world  has  every  appearance  of  a  probationary 
flate — that  it  really  is  fuch,  reve'ation  fully  aifares  us. 
Happy  is  our  privilege  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  revelation, 
which  inflruds  us,  what  beings  we  are,  for  what  end  w.e 
were  created,  what  is  our  duty  here,  and  what  is  the 
ftate  before  us. 


God  manife-ds  himfelf  to  us  in  the  frame  of  our  bcf^ 
dies,  in  the  faculties  of  our  minds,  in  the  wonders  of 
his  creation,  in  the  wifdom  of  his  providence,  m  th« 
fapply  of  our  wants,  and  the  fuccefs  of  our  labors  ;  but 
lEore  fully  in  the  comrnunicaticns  of  his  word.  Into 
cnr  world  he  has  fent  his  o^.vn  Son,  who^  having  afTum- 
edo^ur  nature,  dwelt  aman^  mortals,  taught  them,  bf 
his  doctrines  and  example,  how  they  ought  to  walk  aid 
to  pleafe  God,  opened  to  them  the  plan  of  divine  mer- 
cy, purchafed  for  them  a  glorious  immortality^  and 
prepared  a  new  and  living  way  into  manfions  of  eteriial 
biifV. 

Let  us  ,f^ratefully  acknou  ledge  and  affiduorily  improve 
our  moral  and  religious  advantages  ;  regard  rnis  life,  zt 
k-is^^  a  fhort  term  of  trial  for  endlefs  felicity  and  fulne's 
of  joy  ;  and  while  we  remain  pilgrims  here  on  ear.h, 
walk  as  expeclants  of  the  heavenly  world. 

Let  us  be  fellow  helpers  to  the  kingdom  of  God. 
That  is  a  kingdom  of  perfect  benevolence.  To  prepare 
for  that  date,  we  mufl  begin  the  exerciie  of  benevo'ence 
in  this.  God  is  the  great  pattern  of  gcodnefs.  Our 
glory  is  to  be  like  hirn.  We  then  fhew  ourfeives  to  be 
like  him,  to  be  hi:^  children  and  heirs  of  an  inheritance 
in  hh  kingdom,  when  we  love  our  enemies,  relieve 
the  miferab'e,  encourage  virtue  and  righteoufnefs,  and 
promote  the  common  happinefs  within  the  humble  fphere 
of  our  adivity  and  influence. 

How  aflive  and  enterprizing  are  many  in  ^he  prefent 
day,  to  facilitate  an  intercourfe  between  different  parts 
©fthe  country  by  preparing  fmooth  roads  in  rough  pla- 
ces, by  (Iretch-ng  bridges  over  dangerous  ftream.s,  and 
by  opening  canals  around  rapid  falls,  arid  thro'  inland 
towr:s  ? — Their  motives,  we  trull,  are  hoaorable  ;  but 
whatever  be  their  motives,  they  are  advancing  the  inte- 
reil  and  profperity  of  their  country.   May  all  thefe  works 


be  a  prelude  to  works  more  pious  and  more  cxtenfivcty 
berxcficent.  May  ihe  time  foon  come,  when  an  equal 
zeal  fijall  appear  to  remove  all  imcediments,  which  lie 
in  "the  way  of  a  general  fpread  of  the  go'pel  and  a  gene- 
ral converfion  of  mankind  to  the  chriiHan  faith.  May 
the  public  fpirit,  which  operates  fo  fuccefstully  in  the 
former  caufe,  rife  and  expand  until  it  ardently  embraces 
the  latter.  May  we  foon  hear  a  voice,  crying  in  the  wil- 
dernefs,  "  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  flrait 
in  the  defen  a  high  way  for  our  God.  Caik  ye  up,  caft 
ye  up,  prepare  the  way,  take  up  the  (lumbling  blocks 
out  of  the  way  c  f  his  people."  And  may  we  fee  thou- 
fands  and  thoufmcls  proajptly  obeying  the  call.  "  i  hea 
ihall  every  valley  be  fiTied,  and  every  mountaiii  and  hill 
fhall  be  brought  low  ;  the  crooke.i  fhall  be  maJe  flrait, 
and  the  rough  ways  {liaU  be  rr^aiefmooth.  And  all  fleih 
fliall  fee  the  falvation  of  God," 


x>, 


